Overview

• The one-time $100,000 charge applies to new H-1B petitions, with existing visa holders exempt and an exemption-request form available, according to the White House.
• In South Dakota, Crow Creek Tribal School filled 15 vacant teaching jobs with Filipino educators on H-1B visas after receiving no domestic applicants, its superintendent said.
• The National Rural Education Association said the fee can equal the salary and benefits of one or two teachers, making critical positions unattainable for small district budgets.
• The American Medical Association warned the surcharge will worsen physician shortages, particularly in rural areas where recruitment is already difficult.
• A coalition of healthcare providers, religious groups, and educators has filed a lawsuit challenging implementation of the fee, and the Department of Homeland Security declined to comment.